Gardeners Checklist: Here Is What to Do on the Week of Sept. 9

By Ron Kujawski

* Buy some colorful hardy mums for planting in spots in flower beds vacated by spent annuals. Mums are also great for flower boxes and patio pots. While mums planted in the ground should survive the winter if mulched, those in containers will not be so lucky. The small button-type mums are reputed to be the hardiest. When mulching mums in late fall, use a light airy mulch such as straw or pine boughs.

* Pinch out the tips of Brussels sprouts. This will encourage development of the lateral buds or sprouts along the stem. Removing the leaves may also hasten development of the sprouts.

* Finish seeding new lawns or bare spots in existing lawns this week. Seeding much later will increase the risk of injury or death to grass seedlings from hard freezes.

* Plant winter rye in all the vacant areas of the garden and continue to do so as space opens up. Growing cover crops such as winter rye is one of the easiest ways to add organic matter to garden soils. Of course, the organic matter doesn’t get incorporated into soil until the winter rye is turned under in early spring.

* Avoid poorly draining areas when planting spring flowering bulbs. Soils that remain wet for long periods of time are the bane of spring bulbs.

* Clean up the residue from plants infected by powdery mildew. This disease over-winters on old leaves and stems; next spring, they will be a source of spores for new infections.

* Keep weeding. You may notice that most garden weeds have set seed. Leaving one seed-laden weed in the garden can mean thousands more in your future. I think I found that message in a fortune cookie. 

* Harvest the dried seed of dill and coriander for a supply of seasonings. However, leave some seed on the plants and let these drop to the ground. Next spring the seed will germinate and provide new plants for the new growing season. 

* Space daylilies about 1 ½ feet apart when planting. They can tolerate part shade but place them in soil that drains well. In October, plant daffodil bulbs between the daylilies. After the daffodils finish their bloom next spring, the daylily foliage will come up and hide the fading daffodil foliage.

* Apply repellents to trees and shrubs to deter deer. They’ll soon be looking to munch on the succulent vegetation in home landscapes. Repel them now before they get in the habit of visiting and feasting on your plants.

Ron Kujawski began gardening at an early age on his family's onion farm in upstate New York. Although now retired, he spent most of his career teaching at the UMass Extension Service. He serves on Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Horticulture Advisory Committee. His book, Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook, is available here.